A leading academic at the University of Oxford has challenged the global university ranking system, arguing that it fails to reflect the real contributions of African institutions.
Speaking during a webinar organised by Adonis & Abbey Publishers to mark its 23rd anniversary, themed Africa in World University Rankings, Professor David Johnson said, “African universities remain underrepresented in global rankings that privilege research output, citation impact and international prestige,” adding that such measures “inadequately capture the development missions of African higher education institutions.”
The virtual event, held on March 18, 2026, via Zoom, brought together experts to examine Africa’s place in global university assessments.
Johnson explained that the focus should shift toward how universities impact society through innovation and economic transformation. According to him, “a critical indicator… is the capacity of universities to generate innovative companies, particularly spin-out companies that translate knowledge into scalable social and financial value.”
Johnson pointed to global shifts, including moves by some Chinese universities to step away from rankings and refocus on national priorities, as signs that new evaluation models are emerging.
He maintained that Africa is rich in talent but struggles to convert knowledge into real-world solutions, urging institutions to ask, “What difference does this university make to its society?”
